The mcintire-stennis cooperative forestry research program is funded through the USDA national institute of food and agriculture as a formula-based program for forestry and natural resources…

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the University of Vermont & State Agricultural College $1,088,898 on October 1, 2025, under the Cooperative Forestry Research program (CFDA 10.202, also known as McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research).

The award funds state and regionally focused forestry and natural resources research conducted through the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR) to advance understanding of forestry and natural resource issues, practices, and their effects on forest ecosystem health, forest management, social systems, and public policy. The program solicits proposals for five-year interdisciplinary projects evaluated against the strategic goals and targeted research areas of the national McIntire-Stennis program. Current RSENR projects address ecological, social, and economic aspects of forestry.

RSENR prepares students with knowledge, experience, and critical thinking skills to address complex problems in forest ecosystems, sustainable forest management, and conservation. The program also facilitates cooperation with Vermont state agencies and other Vermont partners in forestry research and aims to increase forestry research in production, utilization, and protection of forestland while training future forestry scientists.

Performance occurs in Burlington, Vermont. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. This is a formula grant to a land-grant institution; funds are distributed to state-certified institutions as determined by the Governor or designee.

The mcintire-stennis cooperative forestry research program is funded through the USDA national institute of food and agriculture as a formula-based program for forestry and natural resources research at land-grant universities. The program provides funding to the rubenstein school of environment and natural resources (RSENR) for critical state and regionally focused forestry and natural resources research to advance the understanding of forestry and natural resource issues and practices, and to monitor their effects on forest ecosystem health, forest management, social systems, and public policy. Over 75% of vermont's land area is covered by forests. These forested lands play a critical role in protecting watersheds, maintaining biodiversity, sequestering carbon, and supporting working landscapes. Forestry as a field of study has had a long and distinguished history at the university of vermont with forestry courses taught here since 1888. The department of forestry was established in 1946 and the program is now a part of RSENR and accredited by the society of american foresters. The program prepares students with the knowledge, experience, and critical thinking skills needed to help solve the complex problems facing forest ecosystems, sustainable forest management, and conservation in the 21ST century. The mcintire-stennis forestry research program aims to increase forestry research in the production, utilization, and protection of forestland; train future forestry scientists; involve other disciplines in forestry research; and facilitate cooperation with state agencies and other vermont partners in forestry research. RSENR solicits proposals for five-year projects. Proposals are evaluated on their alignment with the strategic goals and targeted research areas of the national mcintire-stennis program. The current portiolio of mcintire-stennis projects in RSENR includes three new interdisciplinary projects that address ecological, social, and economic aspects of forest conservation and management. The first focuses on developing climate adaptation strategies that reduce risks to forest health, sustain critical habitats for culturally important and at-risk species, and support key ecosystem services like carbon storage. The second investigates the tradeoffs and synergies among carbon forestry practices, biomass energy, and recreational uses, addressing the question of how managers can integrate practices to achieve joint benefits while reducing user conflicts. The third new project focuses on the socioeconomic and ecological barriers to climate mitigation facing small forestland owners, particularly rural, low-income, and minority communities otien marginalized in the forest products industry. All projects emphasize research on forest productivity, utilization, and protection in the face of natural resource changes, invasive species, and socio-economic dimensions of forest fragmentation. All projects include significant opportunities to collaborate and share findings with stakeholders across agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and forest-dependent communities. We also place a high value on the training of future forest science professionals by supporting graduate students and early career researchers across these projects